About the artwork
"无"-意思是无所不能,超脱非凡. Hong Zhu An's works rarely tell a specific narrative. Rather, the artist invites viewers to form their own thoughts and emotional connections, subsequently creating a personal dialogue between the artwork and the viewer. In this piece, Hong attempts to capture the essence of zen. Thousands of meticulous, intricate strokes of calligraphy form columns across the canvas, reflecting the meditative state of the artist and a sense of spiritual enlightenment. This is juxtaposed with the large bold strokes that overlap, yet they are no less precise and poetic. Through his nuanced contrasts, Hong perfectly captures the varying levels of 'zen' or meditation that is essential in individuals' lives.
About the artist
Chinese-born Hong Zhu An (b. 1955) is one of the finest artists in Singapore today. Trained under famous art scholar Wang Zidou at the Shanghai Art and Craft Institute, the artist is proficient in both Chinese and Western Art. Painting in acrylic and ink, his works exude a serenity and energy that calms the mind and offers insightful abstract interpretation alongside enchanting visuals. Constantly growing in both skill and prestige, he has exhibited his works in South East Asia, the USA and Australia and has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the UOB Painting of the Year ‘Grand Award’. His works have been collected by major institutions such as the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, Princeton University Museum in New York, the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and Singapore Art Museum.